Jonathan: The Mid-Term Scorecard...

His rise to the number one position in the land might have been eased by a sleight of good luck, but two years after in the seat of power, the president 'once without shoes,' must have learned that good luck alone does not translate to success and steady progress. Not only is the burden of the office taking it's toll on him, president Jonathan must have now learned of the pandora's box, that is leadership. Faced by the peculiar plague that is Boko Haram, his two years presidency have come to be defined by his reactive approach to the menace. It is true that his presidency is unfortunate to be the first in our turf to wrestle with such evil, but leadership is not a call for pity party. It requires proactiveness, decisiveness and effectiveness; features that have been in short supply in this current administration. On occasions too numerous to rehash, the Jonathan presidency have lacked the will and efficiency to pursue their policies to completion. The change of the Power minister from Barth Nnaji to Chinedu Nebo is yet to heal the epilepsy in that sector. The economy is not faring too well, as foreign debts continue to skyrocket. Unemployment rate is at an all time high. Needless to say, the scourge of corruption continues to reign supreme. That Farouk Lawal and Femi Otedola are still roaming around the streets, despite their obvious corrupt practices, says a lot of the so called fight against corruption. Perhaps, the only sector that seems to be a beacon of light, appears to be the Agricultural sector under the watchful eyes of Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina. What is more? A worrying trend that has become an hallmark of the Jonathan regime so far, is the bickering, witch-hunting and dictatorial tendencies that the regime has displayed. If it's not Reuben Abati pouring venom on the critics, it is Doyin Okupe attacking anyone that dared to speak against the policies of his boss. And the garrulous cum ranting nature of the Information minister, Labaran Maku, has now become legendary. It is true that the need for constructive criticisms cannot be ignored, but it is even more of a truism that all sorts of criticisms, irrespective of intents, must be accommodated. Also, the administration might claim innocence in the current travails of the embattled Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, but we are not so gullible not to see the truth. Conclusively, a verdict by the jury on the Jonathan presidency might be hasty, but the half way point, leaves plenty to be desired.

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